Others have cylindrical and spiny stems. Flowers for the most part are large, colorful, and funnel shaped and this genus is largely responsible for many of the popular "Epi" hybrids. Other flowers are more narrow and bilaterally symmetrical and some are even small and tube shaped.
The primary stems are up to 5 feet (1.5 m) long. The secondary stems are flat to triangular, acute with coarsely scalloped margins, toothed and up to 6 inches (15 cm) long. The flowers are funnel-shaped, purplish-pink or red and up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.
- Scientific Name: Disocactus nelsonii (Britton & Rose) Linding.
- Synonyms: Disocactus nelsonii var. nelsonii, Chiapasia nelsonii, Epiphyllum nelsonii, Phyllocactus chiapensis, Phyllocactus nelsonii
- Family: Cactaceae
- Subfamily: Cactoideae
- Tribe: Hylocereeae
- Genus: Disocactus
Hardiness:
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
From the rainforest areas we can get a good idea of its growing requirements. This is a succulent that appreciates a moist soil mix, most growers use a mixture of peat, soil and pelrite, or sharp sand. Like many epiphytic plant part shade or filtered light is best.
Moisture is essential during the warmer months and a frost free environment is essential, during winter reduce watering, although do not allow to dry out completely. You will see the foliage begin to change and shrivel if watering is required.
Flowering mainly in spring, remember to keep Disocactus phyllanthoides fairly dry , but not completely dry during the dormant period, (winter).
Easy to grow from stem cuttings and although they will usually strike at any time of the year the best time is in spring.
- Do not be tempted to strike the long stems thinking you will get a larger plant more quickly.
- Shorter stems have a better strike rate.
- After cutting the stem, leave it in a shaded position to allow the cut to callous over, similar to many succulents.
- Cuttings will strike in the same potting mix you use for growing the parent plant. Leaf mold, perlite and sphagnum moss.
- Keep dry to just moist, this prevents damping off
- Cuttings should strike in 1 - 2 months.
- At this stage slowly bring them into more light to allow them to harden off gradually...
– See more at: HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR DISOCACTUS
Origin
Disocactus nelsonii is native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
Links: Back to genus Disocactus
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